Town News Briefing

May 07, 2005

BRISTOL

Car Runs Into Pole,

Injuring Driver

BRISTOL -- A city man was slightly injured Friday when his car hit a utility pole and a parked car on Riverside Ave.

Michael Kriscenski, 31, of 286 West St., was driving west on Riverside Avenue at about 12:15 p.m. when his car struck the utility pole in front of Crown Oil Co., at 347 Riverside Ave. The impact snapped the pole near the base.

Police are still investigating. Kriscenski's SUV sustained heavy front-end damage, as did a Subaru Forester, parked in front of a neighboring business at 337 Riverside Ave.

Kriscenski was taken to Bristol Hospital. Electrical and telephone service was not affected, but crews were called to secure the leaning pole, Sgt. John McNellis said.

SOUTHINGTON

9 Teenagers Charged

In School Incident

SOUTHINGTON -- Nine local teenagers have been arrested in connection with the toilet-papering of Southington High School property last month, police said Friday.

Two dispatchers and a police sergeant -- the only people in the building at the time -- were not hurt. The two dispatchers were sent to Bradley Memorial Hospital because they were exposed to a fire-suppressing gas, said Sgt. Lowell DePalma.

The episode began when the three men smelled smoke in the building. The communications system automatically shut down and they called the fire department on a radio, saying they had to leave the building, said Assistant Fire Chief Thomas Wisner. Emergency calls were routed to Plainville police.

Seconds later, the dispatchers and sergeant noticed smoke coming from the ceiling vents. Fire alarms went off and a fire-suppression gas was released.

The source of the commotion was a steam humidifier in the ceiling near the dispatch center that caught fire, DePalma said. But the fire didn't spread. The police station was aired out and its dispatch system was running after roughly two hours, he said.

SOUTHINGTON

Local FBLA Chapter

Wins State Honors

SOUTHINGTON -- The Southington High School Chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) was named the most outstanding chapter in Connecticut at the fourth annual State Leadership Conference.

More than 600 members and advisers from state schools, including 33 from Southington, attended the conference at the Connecticut Grand Hotel in Waterbury.

Erica Crevier of Southington was named the most outstanding Connecticut FBLA member for 2004-05. She will represent the state at the National Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., this summer.

In addition to the individual competitive events, Southington received a Gold Chapter Award for outstanding service and leadership in Connecticut FBLA state projects.

Students were given the opportunity to compete in business and business-related subjects, elect new state leaders and attend business-style workshops.

NEW BRITAIN

`Queen Of Soy Shakes'

To Share Her Story

NEW BRITAIN -- Diana Dyer, registered dietitian, cancer survivor and author, will share advice and the story of her personal battle with the disease in a lecture May 17 at New Britain General Hospital.

Known among her fans as the ``Queen of Soy Shakes,'' Dyer's book, ``A Dietitian's Cancer Story: information and inspiration for recovery and healing from a three-time cancer survivor,'' offers nutrition and lifestyle advice to cancer survivors.

Dyer's first bout with cancer was a neuroblastoma, diagnosed in 1950 when she was 6 months old. Three decades after successfully completing treatment, which included surgery and large doses of radiation, Dyer discovered a lump in her breast that turned out to be breast cancer. After surgery and chemotherapy, the malignancy went into remission but in 1994, and about to celebrate her 10th anniversary of being free of cancer, a mammogram turned up another tumor, this time more advanced.

With her third cancer in remission since 1995, Dyer now lectures extensively about her recovery, offering advice and encouragement to others facing cancer.

The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the hospital cafeteria. The program includes refreshments at 6:30 p.m. and samples of Dyer's special soy shakes. To register, call 869-224-5400, Option 8.